Information isn’t always free

I remain optimistic that at some point there will be a change in legislation which means that universities are exempted from the stipulations of Freedom of Information. Just to be clear though I’m not against universities being required to publish information – I’d just rather it was an agreed set of requirements instead of permitting anyone to request just about anything, no matter how pointless.

It often seems to me that FOI is only occasionally used for purposes which might be legitimate but are much more likely to be about commercial advantage-seeking, scandal-seeking, avoiding serious research or pursuing individual grievances.

Significant resources are dedicated by all universities to responding to FOI requests and they often impact widely across institutions with many staff, at every level and in all parts of the organisation, being required to check their electronic and paper files to address an FOI, whether it is serious or frivolous.

Anyway, in order to channel my enormous irritation with FOI over the years I have taken to logging some of the more distinctive FOI requests which I’ve seen over the years at my university. 

Back in 2021, my top 30 fave FOIs were published on Wonkhe and I take no huge pleasure in providing an updated ranking of my all time favourite daft FOI requests. So here goes…

The all new all time top 20 fave FOI requests

1. The number of complaints we have received from staff/students/visitors about haunted buildings, ghosts or other paranormal phenomena on our premises in the last 10 years, what action was taken and how much did the action cost.
2. Request for confirmation that Djanogly Library is sinking. (It isn’t, and you can find a full commentary on this issue here.)
3. Whether the main library holds copies of “As A Man Thinketh” by Ben Holden-Crowther and James Allen, number of copies and, if not held, whether the Library intends to acquire copies.
4. Pet therapy sessions: Type of animals used and how long students have access to animals.
5. Number of examination scripts lost over 5 years plus resolutions and compensation.
6. Number of Nottingham Forest tickets University receives and how they are allocated.
7. Number of calls made to the speaking clock and directory enquiries (not something you expect to happen much these days).
8. The number of bank cards (credit or debit) that have been reported lost each year between 2020 and 2023.
9. Wedding statistics – number of ceremonies/receptions on campus.
10. A list of all trigger warnings, content warnings or any other synonymous term used for offensive or upsetting content broken down by sexual practices, bodily functions, the supernatural, taboo habits, blasphemy. 
11. Which office or administrator or body of administration, within the university or management suite within the university was responsible for giving approval to the placing of the artificial peregrine nest on buildings in the university complex.
12. The speech that your Vice-Chancellor (or other representative head) used at the last graduation ceremony (or similar ceremony) held at your institution.
13. Over 2 years, amount spent on eradication of vermin within the University plus breakdown of spend month-on-month.
14. Number of books loaned over 10 years where the title contains the word “geometry” or “geometric” and the percentage of students from each school that have loaned a book where the title contains those words.
15. The University’s youngest Pro-Vice-Chancellor.
16. List of banks and amount of cash in each plus bank branches and cash machines on university premises (yes, really).
17. Number of ice cleats bought over 3 years and number of accidents due to icy/snowy conditions.
18. Shooting rights on University land: Whether or not UoN allows the driving or shooting of game on its land.
19. Spend last year on biscuits, prosecco, wine and sweets.
20. How many times have the following people been searched on Google in the last 30 days-

1)      Kim Kardashian

2)      Kylie Jenner

3)      Kendall Jenner

4)      Molly Mae

5)      Tommy Fury

6)      Charles Darwin

7)      Albert Einstein

8)      William Shakespeare

9)      Isaac Newton

10)   Leonardo da Vinci 

An outstanding ranking I’m sure you will agree. 

I do want to acknowledge the work of university Information Compliance teams across the sector for their tireless efforts in meeting the demands of this exceptionally enlightened piece of legislation which is in no way a distraction from the core business of higher education.